‎(BERNSTORFF, JOHANN HARTWIG ERNST.‎
‎Apologie de Monsieur le Comte de Bernstorf. Schutzschrift des Herrn Grafen von Bernstorf. [With introduction by Ludwig von Hess]. - [BERNSTORFF'S EXCEEDINGLY RARE CONFISCATED DEFENCE SPEECH]‎

‎(Location and printer unknown), 1772. Bound in contemporary half cloth with gilt spine and five raised bands. With librarian Bølling's signature to pasted down front free end-paper. Some occasional brownspotting, otherwise a fine and clean copy. Text in French and German on opposite pages.‎

Reference : 43843

‎Scarce first edition of Bernstorff's defence speech before the King against accusations from fellow ministers. The book was declared to be a forgery, and all copies were ordered confiscated hence only a few remains in circulation. Danish chamberlain Frederik Danneskjold-Samsøe raised various different accusations against Bernstorff, the most serious being the state debt exceeded to a dangerous level due to Bernstorff's economic policy. In the present book Bernstorff managed to refute all Danneskjold-Samsøe's accusations and the many intrigues he had been exposed to. Unfortunatly Bernstorff did not live to see the effect of his publication.Goldsmiths'-Kress no. 10841.0.‎